Weapons and gear of the DMZ: South Korea's last defense

On guard

On either side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the approximately 150-mile-long, 2.4-mile-wide strip separating North Korea and South Korea, lie armies, weapons and other markers of war.

At the observation post in Paju, a city situated just south of the world-watched 38th parallel, a South Korean solider stands. South Korea and its volatile neighbor have never officially ended the Korean War, signing an armistice that created the DMZ in 1953.

Credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Taking aim

South Korea has assembled an army of about 495,000 troops. Here, a group of its soldiers performs a demonstration of a search operation near the DMZ.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Ready for fire

The K200, pictured, is a Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It's one of about 2,700 armored vehicles at the disposal of the South Korean army.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Fighter jets

The FA-50 fighter jet, seen here at the South Korean air base in Cheongju, joined the ranks of the South Korean air force in 2013.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Heavy metal

The South Korean army's M48A2 tank, pictured, is a diesel-powered variant of the United States-designed M48 Patton battle tank.

Credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Watching the sky

Mobile surface-to-air Patriot missile defense systems are one of South Korea's major weapons systems. A Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missile launcher is seen here in 2017. The South Korean military is reportedly looking to upgrade to the PAC-3.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Behemoth

The 14,000-ton Dokdo is the largest ship in the South Korean navy. According to the Korea Times, it can transport up to 720 marines, six tanks, seven amphibious assault vehicles, 10 trucks and seven helicopters.

Credit: Lee Jin-Man/AFP/Getty Images

Boom box

Loudspeakers trained to the north are another relatively low-tech tool in South Korea's arsenal. The south uses the speakers to broadcast loud weather forecasts.

Credit: Korea Pool/Donga Daily via Getty Images

Enter the marines

South Korea's marine corps has about 28,800 troops. Here, marines from the country's 2nd Marine Division roll out during a 2016 demonstration at a base in the city of Gimpo near the DMZ.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Blast off

Following a North Korean nuclear test in 2017, the South Korean military released this photo of a Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile.

Credit: South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

Show of force

In 2017, these F-15K South Korean fighter jets dropped 2,000-pound MK 84 bombs at the Taebaek Pilsung Firing Range in a show of force.

Credit: South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

On a roll

The South Korean army features approximately 2,400 tanks, including this K1 main battle tank, seen here firing smoke shells during a 2011 drill in Paju.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Live fire

The K2 main battle tank is pictured during a live-fire drill in 2015.

Credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Rolling in

Amphibious assault vehicles used by South Korea's marine corps kick up dirt during a demonstration in Gimpo.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Taking off

The KA-1 aerial control-attack aircraft, seen at the United States' Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, has been part of South Korean air-defense force since 2007.

Credit: Kim Jae-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images

Air show

The South Korean Air Force boasts 65,000 troops and 400 combat aircraft, including this RF-16. It's seen firing flares during a 2017 presentation for the media.

Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Supersonic

The homegrown T-50 is used by South Korea to train pilots for the F-15 and other fighters.

Credit: Kim Jae-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images

Lighting up the sky

This Lynx multi-purpose helicopter, seen firing flares in 2017, is one of about 50 choppers deployed by South Korea's 70,000-troop-strong navy.